Also, you may want to check out our Deep Waters section of the forum found in The Sanctuary. There are many intellectual subjects found there that you may enjoy giving input on.
Thanks for the recommend!
Please don't get me wrong, I'm really uncomfortable writing about myself, but I'd like to include something in my profile and there isn't a dedicated space for it (not that I'm complaining or anything...) there, so I'll include it here. It's just something else about little ol' me.
Being Jewish, our family observes the weekly Sabbath. When I became a Believer, I didn't stop being Jewish; my Jewishness was enhanced. When I became an Apostolic, my Jewishness made a quantum leap.
After two years of being an Apostolic, I pretty much got my fill of high-energy services. I'm not knocking them, as I like a hand-clapping, foot-stomping Holy Ghost service, but there is something about a solemn assembly that one finds in a synagogue. Though I had the Church, I needed the synagogue. I knew that the only happy medium was a Messianic synagogue; a traditional synagogue was not (and willl never be) part of the solution.
Upon my first visit to a Messianic synagogue, I was shocked to discover that Messianics are Trinitarians! It's unfortunate, but it's just a way to curry favor from the mainstream church body. This did not deter me from attending.
In 2005, I attended a Messianic synagogue which had less than 30 regulars. The rabbi knows I'm Apostolic, and though he is a STAUNCH Trinitarian, we get along just fine. We went to Israel together and he discovered that Oneness people are OK!
He chose to have me be the primary Torah reader (Hebrew, not English...), which is a position called the Gabbai. Check my profile, and you will see a few pictures of the only Oneness Believer who is the Gabbai in a Trinitarian Messianic synagogue! I also teach the Aleph Bet (the Hebrew Alpha Bet) when service ends and am the instructor for young people who are preparing for bar/bat mitzvahs.
The congregation has grown, with 45 at the last Shabbat service. As Apostolics, we are accustomed to the power of the Holy Ghost, and while Messianics acknowledge the power, the rabbi tends to unplug the power cord from the source on Shabbat, but he's starting to see what God likes to do through the servitude of Holy Ghost filled Apostolics.
One particular Shabbat service, a lady came to visit. At the end of service, she asked to speak to my wife and mom privately. During the conversation, she told my wife that she was demon possessed and wanted help. Then the demons showed up. A person in the leadership (real tough lady, too) got FREAKED OUT when the demons showed up. I happened to be passing by and my wife got my attention. While the other members of the congregation ran to get the rabbi, my wife and I proceeded to cast the demons out, commanding them to leave in Jesus' Name. When the rabbi got the full story and saw the outcome, he got a little indignant at first because he wasn't involved, but then said, "Maybe it's a GOOD thing to have some Pentecostals in the synagogue."
A week ago, a regular was suffering terribly from a migraine that she woke up with that day. The rabbi prayed for her while everyone affirmed in silence. Nearly an hour later, her migraine was worse and a sister was trying to use acupressure to provide some relief. She proceeded to tell me that she was in a horrible car accident (struck at 40 mph while parked) back in '86 and has not been the same since, with migraines occurring every 2-4 days, and no medication was able to help her. She asked me, "Is this something that I will never be able to recover from?" I was quickened by the Holy Ghost in that instant and I said to her, "Yes, that's something that you CAN be affected by for the rest of your life. I also know that it's something that you CAN be free from with ONE prayer. (At that moment, the Holy Ghost took over because I don't remember much except for what people told me.) I was told that I said and did the following: "I speak HEALING to you, b'shem Yeshua Mishikheinu (In the Name of Jesus Our Messiah; no oil, just two fingers on her forehead) and by the power of the Holy Ghost, all pain and discomfort is loosed from your body." People had been talking pretty loudly until that happened and then it got real quiet. She told me later that she felt better than she had in days, and I told her I'd be praying for her during the week. She came back the following week with a victory report, saying that the pain tried to come back but she rebuked it and it didn't come back! It's made the rabbi uncomfortable because he's in charge of the prayer and such, and what I did was out of order (Paul tells us that things should be done in order...), but he's face to face with the reality that G-d is using a couple of Apostolics for His service.
So, either we'll get kicked out or G-d will use us to bring Apostolic Truth to this Messianic synagogue. We're prepared for the former, but praying for the latter. This synagogue is full of Messianic Jews, and some Gentiles. Pray that G-d will use Bill & Carolyn Holman to bring Apostolic Truth to the Messianics in Orange County. California, that is...
One other thing: we go to an Apostolic church on Sundays, the same one I was birthed into back in '96. I taught Sunday School last year, and my wife and mom teach it this year. As you can see, I spend my weekends glorifying and building up the Kingdom of G-d. We covet your prayers...
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I’m not a scholar, just a crazy Jewish Believer who wants to see no one deceived and everyone saved.
Shalom uv’racha b’shem Yeshua Mishikheinu!
Peace and blessings unto you in the Name of Yeshua, Our Messiah!
That is incredible! I have only "studied" the Jewish Culture. Actually, I have a book that teaches how to BECOME Jewish in 2 years! LOL But, my feeling is this...I can't be Jewish...because I wasn't BORN Jewish. It's a quirk I have.
ANYWAY! I have a question. You said that the Messianic Jews are Trinity. How can that be? I thought that "Hear O Israel the Lord our G-d is One Lord" meant they believed in One God "only". I was incorrect, huh?
That is incredible! I have only "studied" the Jewish Culture. Actually, I have a book that teaches how to BECOME Jewish in 2 years! LOL But, my feeling is this...I can't be Jewish...because I wasn't BORN Jewish. It's a quirk I have.
ANYWAY! I have a question. You said that the Messianic Jews are Trinity. How can that be? I thought that "Hear O Israel the Lord our G-d is One Lord" meant they believed in One God "only". I was incorrect, huh?
Beth in KY
"How can that be?" Indeed.
The Messianics are Trinitarian and use the typical scriptural 'evidence' that Trinitarians use ("Let 'us' make man in 'our' own image;" "Let 'us' go down and confound their speech," Jesus prayed to the Father, etc.) but they also present two Hebrew words which they claim as pointing to a G-d who exists as a unity.
1) The word "One" in 'the LORD our G-d is One LORD.' The word in Hebrew is 'echad' (pronounced eh-KHah´d), which is not an absolute one, but a compound one.
An absolute one is 'yachad,' as in a sheet of paper.
A compound one is 'echad' as in a ream of paper.
2) The other is the name 'Elohim,' the name we see translated as 'God.' A Hebrew word in the masculine plural tense will have two particular Hebrew letters (yud and mem sofit, in that order) at the end of it. 'Elohim' ends with a yud and mem sofit.
When the rabbi confronted me with this, I explained that the Jewish people never had knowledge of G-d existing as a being with a plural identity, and if that's our heritage, why are we departing from it? I also pointed out that when G-d said "Let us...,' He was talking to the Angels. Then I said, G-d is singular in His identity and plural in his Attributes and Majesty.
Finally, I asked Him, "Why is it that we struggle with the idea that G-d can simultaneously occupy a throne in Heaven and the Mercy Seat in the Temple, but that He can't also occupy a body of flesh and blood? He replied, "So G-d is schizophrenic?" I said, "No, He's Omnipresent." He ended the conversation by saying, "Let's talk some more about this." He never has since.
By the way, you've been grafted into the Olive Tree of Israel. In G-d's Eyes, there's no difference between the Jew and the Greek, so you're just as Jewish as me.
__________________
I’m not a scholar, just a crazy Jewish Believer who wants to see no one deceived and everyone saved.
Shalom uv’racha b’shem Yeshua Mishikheinu!
Peace and blessings unto you in the Name of Yeshua, Our Messiah!
The Messianics are Trinitarian and use the typical scriptural 'evidence' that Trinitarians use ("Let 'us' make man in 'our' own image;" "Let 'us' go down and confound their speech," Jesus prayed to the Father, etc.) but they also present two Hebrew words which they claim as pointing to a G-d who exists as a unity.
1) The word "One" in 'the LORD our G-d is One LORD.' The word in Hebrew is 'echad' (pronounced eh-KHah´d), which is not an absolute one, but a compound one.
An absolute one is 'yachad,' as in a sheet of paper.
A compound one is 'echad' as in a ream of paper.
2) The other is the name 'Elohim,' the name we see translated as 'God.' A Hebrew word in the masculine plural tense will have two particular Hebrew letters (yud and mem sofit, in that order) at the end of it. 'Elohim' ends with a yud and mem sofit.
When the rabbi confronted me with this, I explained that the Jewish people never had knowledge of G-d existing as a being with a plural identity, and if that's our heritage, why are we departing from it? I also pointed out that when G-d said "Let us...,' He was talking to the Angels. Then I said, G-d is singular in His identity and plural in his Attributes and Majesty.
Finally, I asked Him, "Why is it that we struggle with the idea that G-d can simultaneously occupy a throne in Heaven and the Mercy Seat in the Temple, but that He can't also occupy a body of flesh and blood? He replied, "So G-d is schizophrenic?" I said, "No, He's Omnipresent." He ended the conversation by saying, "Let's talk some more about this." He never has since.
By the way, you've been grafted into the Olive Tree of Israel. In G-d's Eyes, there's no difference between the Jew and the Greek, so you're just as Jewish as me.
Thanks! That is really interesting and INFORMATIVE!! I actually started to learn Hebrew at one time, but, since my "little" brother made a 98 average in Hebrew when he was in Seminary....I rely on HIM! That's lazy, I know!
I still don't think I'm as Jewish as you, sorry....my quirk again! LOL But, I do have quite the collection of mezzuzahs and menorahs. Oh, and a Sabbat Candle and prayer shawl and yamulkah (sp?) I think my spelling is OFF tonight, but, I'm tired and too lazy to look the spelling up.
Thanks again for the "lesson". I may actually use that sometime!
Wow!......feeling the HolyGhost when I read this! Brother Bill....will be praying for u guys!.....my doctor that delivered me and taught me violin was Jewish....does that give me partial credit? :-D
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Blessed are the merciful for they SHALL obtain mercy.
Wow!......feeling the HolyGhost when I read this! Brother Bill....will be praying for u guys!.....my doctor that delivered me and taught me violin was Jewish....does that give me partial credit? :-D
Partial credit given if your doctor circumcised you on the eight day...
A Jewish violin teacher? That's the best kind!
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I’m not a scholar, just a crazy Jewish Believer who wants to see no one deceived and everyone saved.
Shalom uv’racha b’shem Yeshua Mishikheinu!
Peace and blessings unto you in the Name of Yeshua, Our Messiah!
Met a man who was of the Messianic Jewish faith one day while while eating with my parents. It was pretty cool cause we talked for almost 2 hours.....and also helped me get extra credit in one of my classes at JCM cause he gave me the information I needed concerning OT hospitality traditions particularly the significance of annointing the head with oil.Good stuff...hehe.
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Blessed are the merciful for they SHALL obtain mercy.
Hehe...I wouldnt know about it being 8 days.I think I blocked the whole traumatic experiance from memory.Im curious....what is your perspective on endtime prophecy?
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Blessed are the merciful for they SHALL obtain mercy.
Im curious....what is your perspective on endtime prophecy?
Not a very good one, compared to the scholars around here, but I believe in a return by our Messiah Yeshua. Though I don't know when, I'm living like The Master is going to return in the next eight minutes.
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I’m not a scholar, just a crazy Jewish Believer who wants to see no one deceived and everyone saved.
Shalom uv’racha b’shem Yeshua Mishikheinu!
Peace and blessings unto you in the Name of Yeshua, Our Messiah!
Ok....in the parable of the prodigal son....when the son comes back to his father...when the father mentions that his son had been dead ....is that a referral to a type of shunning practice? Or was there a practice like that then?
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Blessed are the merciful for they SHALL obtain mercy.